Leadership (Abuja)
Asuelimen Osasuyi
19 November 2008
Abuja — President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua disclosed that the National Sports Commission (NSC) is being repositioned so that our sports with its pool of abounding talents in the country will achieve the level and position required by the generality of Nigerians, and with collected effort, the dream would be realised.
In the same vein, former Nigerian President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida said the development of sports at the grassroots level is the only key for a better future for sports in Nigeria. They both spoke at the launching of Samson Siasia Soccer Academy.
"The establishment of Siaone Soccer Academy will go along way in producing future players that will eventually replace the aging ones that we are finding difficult to replace."
President Yar'Adua, who spoke through the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Alhassan Bako Zaku who now supervises the Sports Commission said during the launch of Samson Siasia Soccer Academy (SiaOne) on Monday that government is committed to youth development through the instrument of sports and in that direction, the federal government at the moment is negotiating with Real Madrid Football Club of Spain which also has offered to establish a soccer academy in Abuja.
Launching the Siaone academy, the president said, "My dear Samson, this initiative is indeed timely, it is timely in the sense that it tallies with this administration's 7-Point agenda. The concept of the soccer academy that has as its objective to reach out to the teaming and deprived youths in the country is commendable. I congratulate you for this initiative and I want to assure you of all appropriate support."
The President however, said that federal government will encourage such private sector driven initiative not only in sports, but in other sectors of the economy, especially as it relates to the engagement of our youths through sporting activities and programmes which government expects the private sector and the public-private sector to partner.
The Nigeria's number one citizen commended Samson Siasia for his contribution to sports development in the country, beginning from his playing days in the Super Eagles to his recent achievement at the recently concluded 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in China where he won a silver medal in the male football event with the Dream Team IV.
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